The Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter is a 2.2 oz / 62 g hollow-fiber membrane water filter that removes bacteria and protozoa from water sources. It's designed with simplicity and ultralight backpacking in mind - certainly something you'll find hikers using on trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2020 Survey
In the third part of this year's Pacific Crest Trail Thru-hiker Survey, we take a deep dive into Pacific Crest Trail hikers' gear. PCT gear lists vary wildly between hikers and (spoiler alert) it's impossible to find a perfect PCT gear list. That said, we can try. I've organized this post in a
The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey (2020)
In the second installment of the 2020 Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey, we'll take a look at the hikers who were actually on the trail this year. Normally, this information is covered in the initial survey publication, but because of many hikers choosing to cancel their hikes due to COVID-19, I
The Best Bear Canisters For The Pacific Crest Trail
The bear canister: an essential piece of Pacific Crest Trail equipment that reminds thru-hikers of what they're truly afraid of out in the wilderness - being torn to pieces by a ravenous bear in the middle of their night (but we all there know there's scarier things than bears out there). If you're
Patagonia Strider Pro Running Shorts (5″) Review
The Patagonia Strider Pro Shorts are a lightweight pair of polyester shorts with a built-in liner, 5 in / 12.7 cm inseam, four stretchy side pockets, and one back zippered pocket. It took me a long time to finally convert to a pair of shorts with a liner, but now that I've made the switch, I
MSR PocketRocket 2 Review
The MSR PocketRocket 2 is a 2.6 oz / 74 g, backpacking canister stove with three foldable pot supports and an adjustable flame. It's lightweight, compact, and compatible with isobutane-propane fuel canisters (the most common kind of fuel canisters). You'll have to bring your own pot to the party
SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Review
The SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger is a satellite messenger (not a personal locator beacon, PLB) intended for tracking, communication, and calling emergency services. It weighs 4 oz / 114g (this includes the required 4 AAA batteries) and uses GEOS satellite technology (more on this below). SPOT
Voormi River Run Hoodie Review
The Voormi River Run Hoodie is a long-sleeve, lightweight wool blend hoodie with thumb loops, a relaxed fit, and a 30 UPF rating. It's great for shielding you from the sun whilst enjoying and frolicking in the outdoors. Based in Colorado (but expanding into Montana), Voormi makes a wide selection
Western Mountaineering UltraLite Sleeping Bag Review
The Western Mountaineering UltraLite is an 850-fill down, 20°F / -6.67°C, three-season, mummy sleeping bag weighing 29 oz / 936 g. Western Mountaineering has a reputation for being conservative in their bag ratings (meaning that you can trust a 20°F / -6.67°C bag to be a 20°F / -6.67°C bag), and the